Send us a text

A world that feels sharp and unsafe can make faith sound like wishful thinking—until you hear Psalm 23 through a shepherd’s hands. We walk the path from “pasture to palace,” slowing down over each image David gives us: the valley of the shadow of death, a rod that means real authority, a staff that keeps us close, a mesa-table prepared in enemy territory, and a healing anointing that soothes hidden agony. What emerges is not sentiment but sturdy care: a Shepherd who confronts danger, guides our steps, and pursues us with goodness and mercy on our best and worst days.

We begin by reframing the valley. Death, David insists, is a shadow, not a wall—evidence that light is near and that the Shepherd is closer. Fear loses its grip not because evil disappears, but because presence changes the terrain. From there, we unpack the rod and staff as working tools: the rod as power and protection, the staff as touch and rescue. Together they explain why “they comfort me” is more than a poetic line; it is daily assurance that we are defended and directed.

Then we climb to the “table” David names—a mesa cleared by the Shepherd who prepares provision in the middle of threat. Enemies remain, but so does the Shepherd, and that means rest is possible before the battle is over. We linger on anointing as well: not ceremonial oil, but a shepherd’s balm that protects ears and nose from parasitic torment. That picture opens into spiritual healing—God meeting us in intrusive thoughts, corrosive guilt, and restless anxiety, bringing forgiveness that overflows into joy. Finally, we follow two loyal companions—Goodness and Mercy—who don’t trail lazily but actively pursue every day of our lives, escorting us to a final address change: dwelling in the Lord’s house forever.

If you’re craving hope that holds when life bites back, this conversation offers grounded comfort, biblical insight, and practical imagery you can carry into your next hard day. Listen, share with someone who needs courage, and if this helped you, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find their way to the Shepherd’s care.

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Send us a text

Start with a familiar line—“The Lord is my shepherd”—and watch it open into a fuller, sturdier vision of life with God than most of us expect. We explore how David’s joy in Psalm 23 confronts a restless world and reframes our deepest needs: guidance when we’re disoriented, protection when fear spikes, provision for the hunger that no achievement quiets, and restoration when we’re flat on our backs. Instead of slogans, we trace the concrete images of green pastures and still waters, showing how the Good Shepherd removes the barriers to rest by meeting real needs—safety, sustenance, and a settled heart.

We dig into the name behind the care: Yahweh, the “I AM,” who needs nothing and yet meets everything we truly need. That paradox reshapes “I shall not want” into a claim about sufficiency, not scarcity. Along the way, we translate ancient shepherding into everyday discipleship: why skittish hearts calm when they see the Shepherd, how “still waters” protect us from noisy currents that pull us under, and what it means to be a cast sheep desperately in need of rescue. Then we mark the wagon tracks of righteousness—integrity, truth, purity, honesty—as the recognizable path He leads us on for His name’s sake.

The thread running through it all is personal: “The Lord is my shepherd.” That one word—my—turns theology into trust and turns a beloved psalm into a roadmap for Monday morning. We end with a simple invitation: if the grass really is greener with the Good Shepherd, let’s say so. Share this episode with someone who’s anxious, tired, or thirsty for something real. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: which line from Psalm 23 steadies you today?

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Send us a text

Trouble has a way of forcing our loyalties into the open. We open Psalms 20–21 and walk a two-beat rhythm every believer knows: prayer before the fight, praise after the victory. Along the way, we trade the illusion of control—our “chariots and horses”—for the solid ground of God’s name, and we discover why allegiance to Christ is not just a feeling but a way of taking the next faithful step.

We start with the day of trouble. David teaches us to ask for help and to anchor our confidence in who God is, not in what we can stack in our favor. The “banners” of Israel’s tribes become a vivid picture of identity; they march with colors and emblems, but their song is about the Lord, not their brand. From there, we revisit David and Goliath—not as a pep talk, but as a pattern. The shepherd enters the valley under a Name, not a resume. That same courage is on offer to us when we face conflict, danger, or decisions that outsize our strength.

Then the scene shifts. The army returns, a crown gleams, and the people give thanks. Psalm 21 lifts our eyes beyond David’s throne to a greater coronation: Christ the King, whose reign brings justice, joy, and peace. We trace how earthly ceremonies hint at a future moment when nations bring their honor to Jesus and loyalty is sworn to the only worthy King. This hope doesn’t numb us to reality; it roots us in it. If the story ends with Jesus enthroned, our present battles carry meaning, and our obedience becomes a clear, quiet way of saying, “Long live the King.”

If this journey helped you trade fear for faith and lift a better banner, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review with one takeaway you’re putting into practice. What banner will you march under this week?

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Send us a text

When trouble looms and you feel outnumbered or overwhelmed, where do you place your trust? Psalm 20 is a call to prepare for battle by trusting in the name of the Lord. It reminds you that your confidence shouldn’t rest in chariots, horses, or human strength—but in the name, nature, and power of your God.

Then Psalm 21 answers with praise after the victory. It’s a coronation psalm, a celebration of God’s deliverance and faithfulness. David lifts his voice in gratitude for answered prayer and divine protection. And woven through both psalms is a prophetic thread that points to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.

These psalms give you a strategy for living: trust before the storm, and praise after the rescue. They prepare you to pray with confidence, endure with strength, and rejoice in the sovereignty of your victorious Lord.

Whether you’re stepping into battle or stepping out of one, these truths will refocus your heart. You’re not trusting in luck or chance. You’re walking behind the banner of your King.

Lift your eyes, raise your voice, and live with confidence—because your King lives and reigns forever.

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Send us a text

What if the book on your shelf is worth more than a vault of gold and sweeter than a spoonful of honey? We walk through Psalm 19 to rethink our posture toward Scripture—moving from “I know that already” to “I can’t live without this.” Along the way, we confront a hard truth: most books inform, but only one transforms. That shift—from information to transformation—changes how we see guidance, joy, and wisdom in a noisy world.

We start with the two “books” God gives us. Creation, the big book, broadcasts His power to every eye and every sky. The Bible, the little book, reveals His heart, commands, and promises to anyone willing to open it. David’s language is vivid: God’s commands are pure, uncontaminated, and full of light. They don’t dim our lives; they illuminate our path. When Scripture exposes what’s off in us, confession is not a shame spiral but a doorway back into fellowship. Clean hearts see clearly.

We also press into permanence. Trends age out, opinions expire, and even our best intentions waver. God’s Word endures. It won’t mislead, because it reflects the character of the One who spoke it—true and righteous altogether. Aim your life by that truth, and you avoid the stray-cannonball effect that wreaks damage far beyond the moment you drift. Then David raises the stakes: the Word is more desirable than much fine gold and sweeter than honey. Gold can buy options, not wisdom; honey delights for a moment, but Scripture sweetens the soul for the long haul. In heaven’s economy, gold is pavement; the Word is treasure.

If you’ve felt stuck, distracted, or spiritually dim, this conversation offers a reset. We talk about building a habit of opening the Bible not as a taskmaster but as a lamp; letting its light uncover, its grace cleanse, and its truth aim your next step. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs fresh clarity, and leave a review to tell us: what passage has recently revived your soul?

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Send us a text

A star-filled sky can feel like a mirror for our fears—vast, cold, indifferent. Psalm 19 pushes back with a daring claim: the heavens aren’t silent at all. They testify. The sky proclaims. Creation is more than scenery; it’s a witness to God’s glory, wisdom, and grace. We walk through that cosmic sermon and then shift to the clarity of Scripture, where God doesn’t just hint—He speaks with a personal name and a steady invitation.

We begin by setting Carl Sagan’s famous words beside David’s song. Where Sagan sees no hint of help, David hears a chorus: day to day pouring out speech, night to night revealing knowledge. From the intricacy of a snowflake to the precision of an atom, we trace how general revelation points to design and purpose—and what happens when we suppress that truth and settle for speculation and worry. Then we pivot with David from El to Yahweh, exploring why the name of God matters for a lonely heart and how special revelation answers questions creation can only raise.

From there we unpack the power of the Word: the law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; God’s testimony is sure and makes the teachable wise; His precepts are right and lead to joy, not despair. You’ll hear practical ways to share Psalm 19 with a skeptical friend and a reminder that God’s guidance is not a cage but a map—straight paths through a bent world. If you’ve ever felt like a speck in the cosmic dark, this conversation offers anchored hope: you are known by the One who made the stars and wrote a book to bring you home.

If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the show. Got a story about how Psalm 19 encouraged you? Send it our way—we’d love to hear it.

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Send us a text

Threats, false accusations, and long delays have a way of shrinking our world to the size of our fears. We open Psalms 16–18 and watch David do something different: he prays honestly, remembers his inheritance, and lets resurrection hope redraw the map of his day. That pivot—from fixing problems to fixing our eyes—changes how we speak, drive, wait, and even how we pray for people who oppose us.

We start with a short, brave plea from Psalm 16: “Preserve me, O God,” and trace how David moves quickly to a bigger horizon: a beautiful inheritance and a promise that the Holy One will not see corruption. Peter later ties that promise to the empty tomb of Jesus, and we explore why that connection matters for ordinary Tuesdays full of deadlines, traffic, and misunderstandings. If Christ’s resurrection is the anchor, then our future is not fragile—and that certainty can soften harsh reflexes. In Psalm 17, David asks God to “subdue” accusers—not to crush them, but to bring them to bow in worship. That surprising prayer becomes a practical test: are we willing to want redemption more than vindication?

From there, we widen the lens with Psalm 18, a memorial of decades where David’s verbs stay in the present tense: “I love… I call… I am saved.” We talk about why deliverance is often delayed and how God uses waiting to develop courage, humility, and steadiness. A simple story about heading to sign for a massive inheritance shows how a secure future can lighten today’s slights and setbacks. By the end, you’ll have a few clear practices—short honest prayers, resurrection-shaped responses, present-tense gratitude—that can carry you through conflict without becoming bitter.

If this journey helps you breathe easier and walk steadier, tap follow, share it with a friend who’s waiting on an answer, and leave a quick review so more people can find these wisdom-packed studies.

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Send us a text

Threats and false accusations can twist our words, rattle our nerves, and drain our resolve. We open Psalms 16–18 with Stephen Davey to rediscover a sturdier center: a short, honest prayer, a sure inheritance, and a Savior whose empty tomb reframes every trial. From David’s “Preserve me, O God” to Peter’s claim in Acts 2, we connect the dots between ancient poetry and the resurrection of Jesus—and we explore how that single event reshapes the way we respond to danger, delay, and difficult people.

We sit with Psalm 16’s prophecy and watch it fulfilled in Christ, then step into Psalm 17’s surprising request: not that enemies be crushed, but that they bow in worship. That kind of courage and kindness doesn’t come from willpower; it comes from a resurrection mindset that says, “When I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.” Along the way, a simple story about heading to claim an inheritance shows how a clear destination changes our everyday reactions—less honking and fuming, more patience and joy. If eternity is certain, detours don’t define us.

Finally, Psalm 18 expands the view across nearly forty years of David’s life. His testimony lands in the present tense: “I love you… I call… I am saved.” We talk about why deliverance is sometimes delayed, how God grows us before he lifts us, and what it means to live with gratitude now while we move toward a promised future. If you’re waiting, misunderstood, or worn thin, this conversation offers grounded hope and practical perspective built on the risen Christ.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help others find The Wisdom Journey.

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback